Civilian Conservation Corps: Government Jobs

For many years, my family leased 900 acres of hunting land at the pinnacle of Fouche Gap. For me, an outdoor fanatic, it was heaven. This property was perhaps the most remote slice of wilderness you could find in Floyd County.

The terrain was very steep and the hollows were populated by huge hardwoods. The tops of the high ridges were where the scrub pines grew. The poor quality of these pines and the ruggedness of the mountains were probably the reason this large tract was never deforested.

Of the many memories I have of hunting and scouting this particular property, the first images are seared in my consciousness. In the early years of the lease, we spent many hours exploring practically every acre. During these expeditions we were shocked to find a large formation of rocks that that were organized into a make-shift worship sanctuary. It was very simple, but stunning to a young man not used to seeing this type of image in the outdoors. It was completely out of place.

One large rock was completely painted white on one side. On the white surface was inscribed, in black, a verse of scripture. (I wish I had wrote down the particular passage, but i just don't remember.) There were smaller rocks organized in what appeared to be seating for those in attendance. I have to say it was pretty erie standing there. Many questions flooded my mind surrounding this scene.

As we continued to explore the tract we found another interesting landmark that lead to answers concerning the sanctuary. At exactly 1100 feet of elevation there was a perfectly engineered trail that lead completely around the mountain. Literally miles and miles of trail had been built for, what seemed to my mind, no reason whatsoever. A little research revealed the origin of the trail and subsequently the rock formation.

During the Great Depression there were groups of young, unemployed Americans organized and employed by the Federal government to complete "conservation" projects. They were paid $1 per day for their labor. Apparently, the group building this trail remained on the mountain for extended periods of time so they created the sanctuary for a place to worship.

This program, the Civilian Conservation Corps, was conceived and implemented by the icon of progressives: Franklin Delano Roosevelt. So, in the name of compassion, FDR created low paying "busy work" for the unemployed instead of actually stimulating the economy so that they could find meaningful work in the private sector.

The sad history of the United States during the early 1930's is constantly referred to by progressives as a shining example of how big government is the answer to major economic problems. But, as with many historical events, the political account of the era has been a distortion of the actual facts.

In a four year study, two UCLA economists have concluded that FDR's policies did not rescue our economy, but more likely, prolonged the depression by seven years. This evidence combined with the history of the depression of the early 1920's and President Warren G. Harding's response provide great insight into why the current administration's stimulus spending is proving to be complete failure. The government cannot create wealth. Only the private sector can.

Today we hear talk of jobs "saved" or created. And it is true that millions of Americans do work for state and federal government. But the overwhelming number of the employed in the United States work for small or medium-sized private enterprise. The question is, is government effective in "rescuing" the economy or buffering us from down cycles? The answer is a resounding no.

However, there is an important part the government can play in economic recovery. It has absolutely nothing to do with debt and spending. But as Warren G. Harding demonstrated, the role of government is to empower the private sector by lowering taxes, removing obstacles, and lowering the cost of entry to markets for entrepreneurs. This freedom will result in economic growth. Private sector growth is the way out of recession.

Government growth during recession encourages dependence and decreases the incentive for risk taking. Are these worthless, unproductive "jobs" of the Civilian Conservation Corps the type of job Americans want? Or is the path of freedom and individual accomplishment more in line with human nature? I prefer to take risks and succeed or fail on my own merit.

Independence Day

On this day in 1776 our forefathers placed the pointy finger of righteous liberty in the fat face of tyranny and said, "No more!" And with one of the greatest of all documents penned by the hand of a man, made their stand having measured the weight of its consequences. And the thirteen United States unanimously ratifying the declaration, boldly proclaimed that our rights are not given by any man, or government, but are graciously granted to us by our Creator!
God bless this land and let us be brave stewards of this miraculous republic!

(Scene depicted by John Trumbull.)

TUM

Hear ye, hear ye!

This kind of consistent message makes me nervous some times. But when I am hit with stuff more than once, my ears perk up a little.

II Samuel 6:14-16, 22
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." (NIV)

1.- Joseph Cochran @ NRCOG last Sunday.

2.- Sportsmen's Devotional for June 25, 2010

I'm listening...

We Must Decrease?

It has been an unbelievable year and a half. There is no doubt that our economy is struggling. As a businessman, I am well aware of the challenges that we face daily. Times are tough for the vast majority of Americans. The world economies are in turmoil. So what is the solution?

My opinions are well documented on this page and my facebook page. The other countries of Europe seem to have come the stark realization that unfettered governmental spending is weakening their fundamental financial underpinnings. Germany, Britain, Spain and Greece have all began to institute austerity measures to greatly reduce the size of government.

What some of these countries still haven't embraced is the one driver that will unleash the private sector in their economies to create jobs and fuel real economic expansion: lower taxation. This missing link will be realized eventually by the leaders of Europe.

But has our government learned these lessons yet? Unfortunately, our current national leadership are convinced that the federal government is the engine that will pull us out of this economic downturn. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Furthermore, while most of Europe has awakened to the reality of the failure of the social state as an economic plus, our President is pressuring those countries to "invest" more in government largesse. There are no historical examples to support his position. So is he trying to justify his policy? Does misery love company? Or is there some reason that is much more specious?

Could it be that President Obama's agenda, moving the US closer to a socialistic society, is more important to his administration than the financial well being of America and Americans?

I don't know the answer to that, but it is very suspicious that we are totally ignoring history and barreling head-long toward financial disaster. Read the following quote from our President, carefully, and decide for yourself what his intentions are:

"More broadly, just to widen out the challenges that the world economy faces, we said in Pittsburgh in the G20 that it was important for us to rebalance in part because the U.S. economy for a long period of time was the engine of world economic growth; we were sucking in imports from all across the world financed by huge amounts of consumer debt. Because of the financial crisis, but also because that debt was fundamentally unsustainable, the United States is not going to be able to serve in that same capacity to that same extent.

We are obviously still a huge part of the world economy. We are still going to be open. We are still going to be importing as well as exporting. But the economic realities are such that for us to see sustained global economic growth, all countries are going to have to be moving in some new directions.

That was acknowledged in Pittsburgh. That means that surplus countries are going to have to think about how are we spurring domestic demand. That means that emerging countries are going to have to think are we only oriented towards exports, or are we also starting to produce manufacturing goods and services for the internal market. It means that deficit countries have to start getting serious about their midterm and long-term debt and deficits. And that includes the United States of America, which is why I've got a fiscal commission that's going to be reporting to me by the end of the year.

So the point is not every country is going to respond exactly the same way, but all of us are going to have responsibilities to rebalance in ways that allow for long-term, sustained economic growth in which all countries are participating and, hopefully, the citizens of all these countries are benefiting."

-Barak Obama, June 24, 2010

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Atlas "Axl" Von Rogers-Hutte

On Valentine's Day I flew to St. Louis, MO to pick up my newest hunting buddy. If you are my Facebook friend then you have already heard all about him. So, If this is a review for you I apologize in advance.

My other dogs are getting older so Tonya and I (wink, wink) decided it was time to bring another hound into the fold so he will be ready when needed. (Actually, I decided and she gave me permission.)

Axl is a Deutsch Drahthaar. This is a very unique breed of versatile gun dogs that are capable of pointing upland game, Retrieving waterfowl, and blood tracking furred animals. In the past I had setters for upland hunting and Labradors for waterfowl. With limited time to hunt, I found I wasn't being fair to either breed. So I began a search for a versatile breed that could I could give more time to.

So here is the guy who has stolen our heart and has already become my best buddy.

This is Axl in the airport in STL just after we went through security.

We are back in ATL and headed to Rome.

Looong day and Axl was soo tired after we got home.

Axl Crashed out in my office.

He's definitely part of the family already!

Axl on point at 1o week of age...Wow!

Me and Axl in the lab at AAT, Inc. corporate offices.

Hope you enjoyed these and I will try to keep you up to date on his progress as the training continues.

Greatlife...

Regarding the Massachusetts Special Election

I am on the mailing list of Organizing for America. This is an organization that in our own community has used deception to push the Obama administrations agenda forward. Below you will see a letter from their director, Mitch Stewart regarding the recent spanking that took place in the bluest of blue states, Massachusetts.

As you can see, they still don't get it!

chris --

Yesterday's disappointing election results show deep discontent with the pace of change. I know the OFA community and the President share that frustration.

We also saw what we knew to be true all along: Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way.

We could have simply sought to do things that were easy, that wouldn't stir up controversy. But changes that aren't controversial rarely solve the problem.

Our country continues to face the same fundamental challenges it faced yesterday. Our health care system still needs reform. Wall Street still needs to be held accountable. We still need to create good jobs. And we still need to continue building a clean energy economy.

The President isn't walking away from these challenges. In fact, his determination and resolve are only stronger. We must match that commitment with our own.

But it won't be easy. Real change never is. For that reason, I am grateful you're part of this fight with us.

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart

Director

Organizing for America

My Talking Points on Health Care

I had the unfortunate opportunity to debate a libertarian this past week over the twitter stream. Actually, I didn't intend on it being a debate, rather a discussion of how he could celebrate the difficulties of the GOP in GA's General Assembly.

This particular person, heretofore, had been a sane tweep. He had similar views as me, and was even a UGA fan. (His twitter handle is @JaseLP) But beware since he doesn't take kindly to, actually, having to defend his positions.

The conversation originated from a statement @JaseLP made about "toasting" the demise of the GA GOP. My question was to the point that I would think that libertarians would be much more closely aligned with conservatives (if not the GOP).

Well, Mr. grumpy was "equally" as hostile to conservatives as to liberals. That really doesn't make sense when you take a gander at the LP platform which mostly has to do with economic freedom from government intervention. LP generally disagree with the GOP over social issues such as medical marijuana. But to me there is no way to be personally free without being economically free. Thus my questioning of his sentiment concerning the state of the GOP in GA.

Long story, shortened, he began attacking me personally so I ended the conversation (in a not-so-nice way!). What made me so angry was that he accused me of not having my own thoughts but of spewing talking points from Sean Hannity. Man that made me mad!

First of all I rarely listen to Hannity, and only occasionally catch parts his TV show. So he was flat out wrong, but that is beside the point. And in the interest of full disclosure, I listen to Rush practically everyday and try to catch some of Beck's and Levin's shows as often as I can. But that doesn't mean that I listen to get my marching orders!

So here is my list of my OWN talking points against the health care reform:

1. Government has had 50 years to perfect centralized management of HC on a much smaller scale and failed miserably... Medicare/Medicaid/VA

2. I am diametrically opposed to Government requiring me to buy anything.

3. We have no Constitutional right to health care!

4. There is no crisis of health care on a widespread basis. Not be able to afford something doesn't make it a crisis that I can not have it. (For example: With their thinking, there is a crisis of access to Aston-Martins. Well only if owning a db9 is a constitutional right!)

5. Socialized medicine is the end game, but they want confess that to us now. They are simply trying to make it so expensive that the private option will cease to exist.

6. Insurance coverage doesn't ensure access.

7. Gov't intervention will decrease quality of care and increase costs of that lower quality care. Just look at the public schools as an example of the government efficiency.

8. Rationing will be a necessity of this system. But without the public option they will be able to blame that on the private sector, again...

9. Continued slide away from individual responsibility to government dependence.

10. We cannot afford it, period. Never has a federal program cost what it was purported to cost. Usually they miss the dollar mark by several multiples.

MY thought is that we are in dire trouble in this country. Our government is corrupted by money and power and greed. They insist on demonizing corporations for their greed and extravagance, while living the life of royalty. I feel sad and helpless and angry that my children will have to look elsewhere to see examples of a free and prosperous nation.

Shame on you!

So, @JaseLp has helped me solidify MY view that protest votes are only good for furthering America's slide (actually a full gallop) toward socialism. Good job pot-smoking LP's! (Joke)

Finding it hard to have peace these days...

CjW